Interchangeable-letter sign.



Patented oct. 23, |900;

No'. 66o,|9o.

aA B. HULLEY. 4 INTERCHANGEABLE LETTER SIGN.

(Applicaticn med Apr. 9, 1900.) (No Model.)

2 Sheets-Shed l.v

Ero. Iii.

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N0. 660,|90. Patniedt. 23', |900.

' R., B. HLLEY.

INTERGHANGEABLEVLETTER SIGN.

(Application tiled Apr. 9, 1900.)

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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'mi Nonnxs Pzsns co. PHOTO-urna. WASHINGTON. n. c.

Unirse STATES YPAriiwr OFFICE.

ROBERT BRUCE IIOLLEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HENRY S. W. FOREMAN, OF SAME PLACE.

INTERCHANGEABLE-LETTER SIGN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 660,190, `dated October 23, 1900. iijpncanontleakprne,1900. secano. 12,152. (Nomea.)

To (/,ZZ whom, it may concern:

Beit known that LROBERT BRUCE HOLLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments in Interchangeable-Letter Signs, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof. Y

Io The purpose of this invention is to provide an improved interchangeable-letter sign of the class commonly known as changeableview signs, being signs in which the characters or letters to be read are presented upon i5 a multiplicity of ribs erected from a common plane, so that the reader approaching the sign from one direction reads the characters upon the surfaces of the ribs in that direction, and approaching it from the other direction reads zo the characters upon the opposite surfaces of the ribs, such ribs being associated with or assem bled without a back upon which the matter to be read is presented directly, so as to be seen when the sign is looked at directly from in front, but is obscured and invisible when the sign is viewed obliquely from either direction-that is to say, the directions in which the characters are read upon the surfaces of the ribs. This general class of signs is very 3o old, but so far as I am aware interchangeable letters in or for such signs have not been heretofore employed.

My in ventionconsistsin the details of construction and elements for the making np of such signs characterized by features which are speciically set ont in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure-l is an elevation of a sign of my improved construction seen from one of the directions from which the 4o characters upon the surface of the ribs may be read. Fig. 2 is a direct plan or edge View of such sign, which is in this View seen to be double-that is, constructed so that it may contain matter upon either side which may be read from either direction longitudinally. Fig. 3 is a detailed direct front elevation of a portion of the sign shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a magnified detail sectional view at the line 4 4 on Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a direct ele- 5o vation of the iive ribs or plates containing five elements or slices, of which a certain letter R of the sign is made, designed to show the manner in which the several portions or fractions of the letter are presented upon the surface of the ribs, the fractions which appear upon the side toward the View being shown in full line and the corresponding fractions of the same letter y.on the opposite side being shown in dotted line. Fig. G isadetail front elevation similartoFig. 3,butshowingenough 6o of the sign to disclose two full letters set in the back-that is,behind the ribsand adapted to be read from directly in front of the sign. Fig. 7 is a detail magnified section at the line 7 7 on Fig. 6, in which it -is shown 65 that the sign is double and that there is a separate back for each side. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective of a portion of the let ter-frame and the letter-slice secured thereto by a modified form of engagement, comprisinga staple 7o struck from the frame. Fig. 9 is a similar detail perspective showing a further modification of the means of engagement between the frame and the finger, consisting of a tinger struck from the frame engaging staples or eyes on the letter-slice. Fig. 10 is a perspective of a structure in which the ribs or plates having the several slices or fractional parts constituting the entire letter are permanently secured'together, so as to be han- 8o dled as a unitary structure in assembling the letters of the sign in the supporting element or frame. Fig. 11 is a magnified detail section through one side bar of the frame, in which the letters of the character shown in Fig. l0 are assembled back to back, so as to form independent signs reading from opposite ways and having independent direct-view or back signs made up by letters inserted back of the ribs constituting the letters of 9o the two signs, respectively.

One part of my invention consists of an interchangeable letter madeup of a plurality of sections or slices on as many separate ribs or plates, each of which contains on its opposite surfaces the same slice or section of the same letter, but arranged to be read from opposite edges of the strip or rib at the opposite side. I will first describe this part of the invention. loo

In Figs. l and 2, A A, dac., are the ribs or strips.

In Fig. 5 I have shown the several strips which make up a complete letter R of the sign illustrated in Fig. l and have additionally distinguished the several strips by numerals 1, 2, 3, 4,and 5 besides the im print of the letter R on each strip. In full line on the surfaces toward the View in Fig. 5 there is shown the portion of the letter R which each section contains on that exposed surface, and in dotted line on that figure I have shown the same fraction or slice of the same letter in the position which it occupies on the opposite surface of the strip in order that the letter as a whole may be read by one looking at that side of the ribs or strips. I put up these sliced letters, as they maybe termed, in fonts containing a suitable number of the slices or fractional plates of the several letters and characters, each marked with the letter of which it is a part and with the number denoting its order in that letter, as the five slices in the letter R are marked, respectye'lyv, C R71, CRQ CLES, RLL?) CR- The strips or ribs or fractional letter-plates making up each letter may be permanently united for greater convenience in composing any desired sign. In Fig. l0 I have shown five strips, such as are required for the letter .R, thus assembled and permanently united. The method of uniting them shown in this figure, and which I deem a desirable method, by reason of certain specific ad vantages hereinafter pointed out, consists in securing across the end portion of the back edges of the strips, arranged in proper relation for reading, cross strips or straps B B, which project laterally beyond said ends of the letter strips or slices and form flanges which may engage with the frame, as hereinafter described. The spaces between the proximate lateral edges of the cross strips or straps B are designed to accommodate back letters arranged to be read from directly in front of the sign. The rigidity of the complete letters of this construction is improved by making the two straps B B in one piece, connected by narrow cross-bars b h, turned up edgewise adjacent the outside letter strips or slices, the surfaces of which they thus cover for a small part of the width at the back or inner edge, where plain space is preferably left t'or spacing the letters, as hereinafter described. Additional means may be employed for increasing the security of the engagements of whatever form by Which the slices are attached to the back straps B B. A little shellac or paint answers well for this purpose when the material used for the slices is not such as to permit soldering.

I will now describe the frame which I prefer for mounting either the separate strips containing the letter-slices A A, duc., or the full letters, made up of such strips or slices, secured together as in Fig. l0. This frame comprises two longitudinal or side channel bars D D, preferably made of sheet metal folded in the channel form illustrated, with the channels facing each other. These longitudinal bars are united by cross'bars d d, one at each end and on opposite sides, such cross-bars being soldered or in any preferred manner secured on the outer surface of the channeled longitudinal bars,one being united,

to the flanges on one side and the other to the anges on the opposite side at the ends of the channel-bars. rlhe channels are adapted to receive letter-plates E, which are not sliced and which contain each a complete letter, designed to be read in the direct view looking in between the ribs A A. The chaunels are preferably wide enough to admit two letter-plates hack to back, so that when it is desired to presen t a different sign at two sides the sign which is to be read from each side can be composed, in respect to the back letters, independently of that which is to be read from the other side and permitting the use of the regular font of letter-plates, which have Athe same letter or character upon both surfaces. The same channels in these channelbars D D are adapted to receive the fianges B B of the letters shown in Fig. 10, as already stated, and when the sign is composed in this manner-that is, with the letters of the character shown in Fig. lO-back letters may be inserted to form sign matter to be read in a direct front view, such back letters being of suitable length to occupy the space between the proximate edges of the crossstrips B B. These letter'plates for this purpose differ only from the strips E by being shorter and are indicated by E' in Fig. ll.

For the purpose ot' mounting` and securing the sliced letter-plates A the fianges ot' the channel-bars D have struck from their substance engagements made in the form of lugs or lingers D' in pairs, `each pair heilig adapted to receive the letter slice or plate and hold it securely. and for this purpose said lugs or fingers have, preferably, slight bosses Dwstruck up from their substance near their ends, all on the same side of the metal sheet from which the fingers are struck, so that such bosses face the letter-slices set between the fingers of each pair, and thus hold them more firmly than they would be held by the contact of the smooth surface of the finger. A great variety ot' forms of engagements can be readily designed. In Fig. 8 I have shown the engagements on the fianges of the channel-bars in the form of straps struck from the metal, the letter-slices having lugs a' u struck from their back edges, one lug being adapted to engage the straps,while the other bears on thesurface of the flange, operating as a brace to hold the letter-slice erect. In Fig. 9 I have shown another form, consisting of a single linger d struck ont from the fiange, the letter slices or strips having one or more staples a struck from their substance, through which the finger (Z/ is inserted.

Signs may be composed or made up with the frame described, the lettering-matter be- IOS frame, and the strips or letter-slices A A be ing secured, as described, by the engagement of their lugs with the fingers or equivalent devices struck out from the anges, and the sign may be made at one side with one of these forms of letters and at the other side with the other form, back letters, if desired, being entered in the channels directly and back letters associated with the complete let-.

ters shown in Fig. 1 being inserted between the edges of the strips B B. Either form of letter may be employed without a back letter, and this construction is particularly useful in the Wintertime, because light for illuminating the sign is thus admitted through it from the side opposite that at which it is to be read. Thus if the sign is double the side which is to be read from the street may be read at night by the illumination from within without the necessity for placing a light in the show-window in front ot' the sign, as would otherwise be necessary, and, on the other hand, the side which is to be read from the inside of the store is illuminated in the daytime by the outside daylight, admitted through the sign, as stated. With either form of letter-that is to say, with any form in which the letter-slices are employed, whether they are first assembled and united into complete letters or are mounted independently upon the frame, both sides of the slide being arranged to present the same fraction of the same letter-the sign will read thc same from whichever direction the ribs are viewed. When it is desired to have the sign read differently when viewed from opposite longitudinal directions, two letter-slices may be inserted between each pair of fingers D', those which face one way making up one reading and those whichl face the other way making up the other desired reading.

I claiml. Sliced letters or characters for interchangeable-letter signs, composed of plates containing vertical slices or sections produced by vertical subdivision of the characters, respectively, each plate having on its two opposite sides the saine section or portion of the same letter or character, arranged tc be read from the opposite edges of the slice on the opposite side.

2. Sliced letters or characters for interchangeable-letter signs, composed of plates containing vertical slices or sections produced by vertical subdivision ot the characters, respectively, each plate having on its two opposite sides the same section or portion of the same letter or character, arranged to be read from the opposite edges of the slice on the opposite side, the initial plate or slice in each letter having at the left hand a clear space to separate the consecutive characters when assembled.

3. Sliced let-ters or characters forV` interchangeable-letter signs, composed of plates containing vertical slices or sections produced by vertical subdivision of the characters, respectively, each plate having on its two opposite sides the sam-e section or portion of the same letter or character, arranged to be read from the opposite edges on the opposite side, the final plate orslice in each letter having at the right hand a clear space to separate the consecutive characters when assembled.

4. Sliced letters or characters for interchangeable-letter signs, composed oi' plates containing vertical slices or sections prod uced by Vertical subdivision of the characters, respectively, each plate having on its two opposite sides the same sect-ion or portion ot' the same letter or character, arranged to be read from the opposite edges on the opposite side, each plate or slice having an identifying-mark denoting of what character or letter it is a part and its order in the same.

5. An interchangeable-letter sign,compris' ing a multiplicity of letter-slices,a plate or flat frame to which they are disengageably and interchangeably att-ached, said slices having each on the opposite surfaces the same slice, section,or portion ofthe same letter, disposed to be read from the opposite edge of the slice, at the opposite side.

6. Aninterchangeable-letter sign,compris ing a plate or tlat frame, and means for engaging at short intervals in the length a multiplicity ot letter-slices; in combination with such letter-slices, arranged to be mounted transversely on the plate or frame erect from the plane of the latter,withsubstantially the entire width projecting clear thereof each of said letter-slices having on the opposite surfaces the same fraction ot the same letter or character, arranged'to read from the opposite edges of the slices at the opposite side.

7. An interchangeable-letter sign, comprising a supporting element in the nature of a tlat frame or plate, having arranged in parallel longitudinal lines engagements for letter slices or plates of sheet material, in conibination with such letter slices or plates disengageably engaged at their back edges with the plate or frame, and extending erect forward edgewisetherefrom, with substantially their entire width clear thereof. A

8. An interchangeable-lettersign,comprising a supporting element in the nature of a tlat frame or plate, having arranged in parallel longitudinal lines engagements for letter slices or plates of sheet material, in combination with such letter slices or plates disengageably engaged at their back edges with the plate or frame, and extending erect forward edgewise therefrom with substantially their entire width clear thereof, such slices having, each on the opposite surfaces, the

IOS

same section or portion of the same letter or character, disposed on such surfaces so as to read from opposite edges ot' the slice at its opposite sides.

9. An interchangeable-letter sign,compris ing a supporting element in the nature of a plate 0r frame having arranged in parallel longitudinal lines engagements for letter or character plates, in combination with two sets of such plates disengageably engaged at their back edges with the plate or frame and held thereto extending erect edgewise O therefrom, one set from one side and the other set from the opposite side.

10. A sign, comprising a supporting open frame, having arranged in longitudinal parallel lines engagements for letter or character plates, in combination with two sets of such plates disengageably engaged at their back edges with the plate or frame and held by such engagement extending rigidly edgewise ottn therefrom in opposite directions.

1l. Asign, comprisingasupporting element of the nature of an open frame, having arranged in parallel longitudinal lines engagements for letter or character plates, in combination with two sets of such plates disen- V gageably engaged at their back edges with the plate or frame, and held thereto extending erect edgewise off therefrom, one set from one side and the other from the opposite side, whereby either set may be illuminated from the opposite side of the frame from which it is arranged to be read by light admitted through the open frame.

l2. An interchangeable-letter sign comprising a sheet-metal frame having longitudinal parallel flanges standing toward each other to form facing parallel channels, such anges having struck up from them, outward, engagements for letter-plates, in combination with such letter-plates adapted to beheld by such engagements extending rigidly off edgewise from the plane of the flanges. l

13. Aninterchangeable-letter sign,compris ing a frame having near its lateral edges, respectively, rows of upstanding lugs or fin gers, in combination with letter-slices of sheet material erected across the frame and adapted to be engaged at both ends by such fingers or lugs and held thereby projecting transversely from the plane ofthe frame.

14:. An interchangeable-lettersign,compris ing a frame having near its lateral edges, respectively, parallel rows of lingers in pairs, in combination with letter-slices of sheet material engaged between the lingers and thereby held projecting transversely from the plane of the frame.

l5. An interchangeable-lettersign,compris ing a sheet-metal frame formed with flanges at the opposite longitudinal sides, inturned 1o form grooves or channels at said sides which face each other; said anges having struck up therefrom at short intervals engagements for letter plates or slices; in com bination with a multiplicity of such letter 4plates or slices, adapted to be held by such engagements of the flanges erect from the plane of the frame, and other letter-plates adapted to slide into the channels formed by the Iianges and be retained therein in the frame.

16. A letter for an interchangeable-letter sign, comprising a plurality of narrow strips or slices of sheet material, erected edgewise parallel, and non-integral strips or straps uniting them extending across their edges at one side at the end, and projecting beyond the ends, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

17. Aninterchangeable-lettersign,compris ing a frame having opposite parallel longitudinal sides provided with longitudinal grooves facing each other, in combination with interchangeable letters or characters each consisting of a plurality of slices erected edgewise parallel, and non-integral strips or straps uniting them, extending across their edges, at one side at the end, such strips or straps projecting beyond the edges, and being adapted to engage said grooves or channels in the frame.

18. A frame or supporting element for an interchangeable-letter sign consisting of a sheet-metal frame havinglongitudinal flanges inturned toward each other at the opposite sides to form facing channels at such opposite sides, adapted to receive the edges of interchangeable-letter plates or parts of letterplates, such anges having formed in and of their substance engagements for holding transverse plates erected edgewise on the flanges.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, at- Chicago, Illinois, in the presence of two witnesses, this 2d day of April, A. D. 1000.

ROBERT BRUCE IIOLLEY.

In presence of- CHAs. S. BURTON, HENRY S. W. FoRnMAN.

IDO 

